Best available cop-



April 17, 1928.

D. T. WADSWORTH INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aufl. 15, v1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1928.

D. T. WADSWORTH INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aux. l5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID T. WADSWORTH, OF COLD SPRINGS, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WADS- WORTH ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY,

A CORPORATION 0F KENTUCKY.

INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed August 15, 1924. Serial No. 782,272.

My invention relates to externally operated switch and fuse boxes, particularly where same are used vwith an individual electric meter, andrelates'particularly to modes of assuring safety against contact with live parts in changing fuses, protection'to the central station by its own vinaccessible fuses, and protection against theft of current Afrom the customers fuses.

There are two general types of switch 'boxes on the market at present which are designed to prevent contact with live terminals and also to protect against theft of current. The one type has a box inclosing the switch, and the fuses, with a dor giving access to the fuses, but not to the switch, said door being interlocked with the device for opening the switch so as to assure that the fuses are dead, whenever the door that gives access to them is open.

The other type has two sets of fuses, one of which sets is inclosed in an inaccessible compartment. in a box, and is located ahead of an electric meter, i. e., between 'the meter and the line. Also in another compartment in ythe same box, or in another box, are the lines coming from the meter to the load, said lines havin fuses in them. There is no chance of t eft from this second t pe of box, but there is chance of injury tii'rough contact with live parts.

'It is one of my objects to rovide a device which accomplishes the go points of each of the above types'of box without the disadvantages of either.

Another of my objects is to provide for a novel interlock mechanism'between a fuse door and switch operating: member, in externally operated switches, which is simple to make and install, easy to remove, if its use is not desired, and which cannot be bent out of line, or fall away, so 'as to create a short circuit.

' Another object of my invention is to providev for meter testing equipment in connection with the switch panel, as distinguished from the fuse panel portion of the box, avoiding any confusion in connection with barriers in the box, which together with the lid thereof. serve to render the live parts inaccessible when the fuse access door is open. Furthermore, with the addition of a meter test switch in the inaccessible portion of the installation, the power company can render the switch permanently open by throwing open the test Switch and the lid of the box in place.

I accomplish the objects above stated and other points of advantage to be noted, by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more speclfically pointed out and claimed.

- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with the lid open.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-'2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a diagram of one wiring diagram for my device.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram for another style of box.

The body of the box is formed of a simple sheet metal structure having a base 1, sides 2, 2, and ends 3, 3. The lid 4 is hinged to the box, as is usual in devices of this nature, and may 'be provided With some way of sealing it shut (not shown).

I have shown two blocks of insulation, such as porcelain, although a single block wouldl serve. The switch block 5, in this instance, is at the upper end of the box,

sealing which `has a space above the block for the insertion of the terminal block 6 of an electric meter.

lhetfuse block 7 is inserted in the lower end of the box, and preferably has the cups for the fuses elevated above the points of attachment of the wires from the meter, which will be referred to specifically below. The lid has a hopper 8, located so that when the lid is closed, it will surround the top of the fuse block, housing the fuses in the opening therein, but giving access to no other part of the box. The hopper opens through the face of the lid, to give access to the fuses in changing them, and metal strips 9, 9, are secured to the underside of the lid, in such a way that the elevated projecting ortion l() of the strips lies under the side e ges of the hopper. Lips 11, 11, on the two sides Located at'the .side of the box, are a pair ofv strips 15, having,r raised flanges 16, which provide a slideway for theinteiloclnpiece L7. This piece is formed'so as todrop down between the flanges 16, but .it cannot be tipped into thebo'x, without breaking away the flanges, whichy are securely riveted. or Welded' into place.

By raising and 'louerinlepthe piece 17, which hasa laterally vextending lip 1 8 at the top thereof, the sliding .shutter required to take.l predetermined positions, duc to the interference of its lip flange 14, with the lip 18 on the piece 17. i

The switch is operated by a bail 19, which extends out through` one side of the box in a bend 20' that. forms a. handle. The other en d is jouinaled in the ,si de of the box, and the 'transverse portion of the bail engages ini a cam slot. 21 in the interlock piece 17.

The cam slot. 21 hasagliranch .slot 21, which, opens through ythe lower edge of the piece 17. As a result, the piece 17 can be droppedinto place, or removed at will.

'The switch itself in theform shown has a single blade, butthenumber ofblades can be as desired.4 The blade 22 is pivotedin the clip 23, and has' a piece of insulation material 24 thereon, same being formed with a forked end to engage over the bail.

Also mounted on the switch base is a switch which has ablade 25,` and terminals 2G and 27. On each ofthese terminals a tongue 28 is projected', to serve as point of attachment of the clips of a meter testingr set.

On. the switch base is affuse 29. There maybe as many fuses as desired in this portion of the box, said fuses beingtermed station fuses, as they are not. available. for changing to the customer, through the-fuse door.

The mode of \viring the device may be varied to suit dilierentpurposes, and the number of circuits served. Atwofwire, single circuit is shownin the drawings, in which the meter is insertedg between the switch and the customers? fuses 30, in the fuse block 7. However, in "View of the interlock for vthe fuse door, thewiring can be arranged to suit, without any chancesl of theft or of getting contactwithlive parts.

lecci/'24 l prefer, however, to set the customers` l'uscs between the meterandthe load, since this results 'in impossibility of stealing' cur rent, unless the box is broken open. There ung-ht lie, and is a chance, to lead wires out through any fuse door, within 'l'ar'aettia-l range ot costs in switch boxes of' the' type in question. but the bitching (if/"wires onto the .switch portion of my device is entirely impossible. lunless the box is broken open, by opening the main lid thereof, or cutting a hole in its sides.'

In the main views and Ydiagram of Figure 6, the terminals for service lines, are `shown at 31 and 32 with the service lines'. shown at 31la and` 32a. -There i's '.a'l. s t'xta'pfrom thev switch 'clip 34 vto th'e teigminalE 3 1'.

and fromthe switclrclip 23 to theservice. stationjusc 29. .A wire is connectedrjrom fuse 29, which alsol .has tongue, thereon, tov the meter.

232 is secured' has a strap. 35ongwhichisa:

'test tongue 35a, and which` strapis'connec;

other test switch terminal.' connected by a lead 41, with the' other terminal.' 38 'o-,the second customer-si fuse. rlhe .load l'i'nesf lead out Aof the box'. m42, 43,.from the two customers7 fuses.

In'thefwiringi'diagrami service'lines 50, v51 are connecte to termi; nals 50a and 51- .Straps ,entendimm the; terminals 5()a and'l, as indicated'fb'y lines 52, and 53, to tWo.I-ser;vice vstatiff'i'ni'f 'u ,respectively. vindicated,at. 52a and ,5,3% the fuse 53a a strap extendskup to. 53h alongside of termina-1 52,". of .the other fuse, where Itest' tongues are attaiche'c'lv 'a's'be-Y fore, and trom which'wiresl 54"andf 55 lead to the meter terminal bl0ck.'

The switch is a two bladejswiteh'with' leads from themeter to its terminals 57'and. 58, and leadsfromjtsother terminal's59 .and` G0 tothe two. customers? fusesl. and. .62, from which the load. lines. pass :out thronghi the, box. Inthiis device themai'nf'swif/Ch serves as a tes`t swi tel 1 As in the first instance'all' testingx islocaliized at, the ..swii tch. blockandthe fuse block can thus. be;l termed in the, most. convenient way to permit ofcqmpletegexclusion-.of the. customer fromthe switch portionsfof 'the` box, while giving him accessto his fuses;

It is not believed! to be necessary to, deal! particularly. with. thev necessity ,for stationA fuses, and. customers fuses, as .this hasbeeng practiced-'in .the switch artior many years..

Havingthus. described myi invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An electric switch and fuse box comprising a switch, a member for operating the switch, comprising a rocking part controlled from the outside of the box, said box having an opening and a shutter therefor, a.' slide in the box, means for slidably mountin the slide, said slide being formed and locate so as to prevent open positions of the shutter, when the slide is in a selected position, and means on the slide detacl'iably engaging the rocking part, whereby it is moved to the said selectedposition when the switch is closed.

2. An electric switch and fuse box, comprising a switch, a member for operating the switch comprising a rocking part controlled from the outside of the box, said box having an opening, and a shutter therefor, a slide moving in said box and removable therefrom, means for mutual sliding engagement between the slide and the box, u canr slot in said slide engaging said rocking part,

\ said slide being so formed and located as being so formed and located as to prevent an open position of the shutter when the rocking part is in switch closing position, and said slot being formed with a downwardl opening branch, adapted to slide over t 1e rocking part, whereby the slide can be lifted away when or if desired.

4. An electric switch and fuse box, comprising a switch, a member for operating the switch comprising a rocking part controlled from the outside of the box, said box having an opening, and a shutter therefor,

a slide in the box, means for slidably mounting the slide, a cam slot in said slide engaging said rocking part, said slide being so formed and located as to prevent an o en position ofthe shutter when the rocking part is in switch closing position, said mounting means formed of a pair of elevated flanges, forming a dovetail in which the slide moves, whereby the slide cannot bend outwardly and touch any live parts of the mechanism.

5. An electric switch and fuse box, comprising a switch, a member for operating the switch comprising a rocking part controlled from the outside of the box, said box having an opening, and a shutter therefor, a slide moving in said box, means for mutual sliding engagement between the slide and the box, a cam slot in said slide engaging said rocking part, said slide being so formed and located as to prevent an open position of the shutter when the rocking part is in switch closing position.

DAVID T. WADSWORTH. 

